Peretz: Israel will hold security zone until int'l force arrives

Solutions proposed: Between Israeli border and Litani river, "international" military force (what country in its right mind would want to volunteer for it? who in their right mind would want to coordinate it?), UN force (no explanation needed), Israeli force (reminder needed? really?). Solution not proposed: Demilitarized zone & negotiation of prisoner exchanges linked to a comprehensive, ratified peace deal between countries with mutually agreed borders. Why?

"Will the Lebanse army hold security zone in northern Israel untill international force arrives." - Mustafa The Lebanese Army has been too cowardly to fight to defend itself. It has taken more casualties in most of Lebanon than Hizbollah, and done nothing to defend itself or Lebanon. Also, had the Lebanese Army secured a zone in Northern Lebanon capable of preventing Hizbollah from attacking the IDF and later retaliating for Israeli attacks on Lebanese Civilians, then there would be no problem. Since the government of Lebanon and it's Army were unwilling or afraid to secure the Lebanese border with Israel, then Israel must.

Security zone? What would that be, exactly? It certainly won't supply security. Israel needs to exercise some negotiation skills to make the most of the current situation, not indulge in hot air.

so called UN troops in Lebanon helps Hizballah kidnap Israel soldiers in the past and then disposed of the video footage. The point of the troops was to stop Hizballah attacking Israel and they have done nothing since 2000 to fulfil their mission.

I think he's just tired, Ali. Pretty much everyone else: nobody even mentioned bringing the UN back, quit panicking! NATO forces are some ways tougher and will do a better job than the Lebanese army are likely to be able to for a few years more yet. It's a good interim solution. My only question is, how big does that buffer zone need to be to cope with the extra mileage on the missiles we now know Hezbollah have?

Mr. Peretz seems to be really down...

Will the Lebanse army hold security zone in northern Israel untill international force arrives. It should be larger than that in south Lebanon; A fair proportionate reaction.

why are anti-semites in europe so happy about this lebanon action ??

Israel is begining to understand what they have done and what the result will be and thus "control the Syrian border" "Control the Lebanese society" "Control...." all this while having no control and with the prospect of losing whatever control that was established before Israel choosed to go to war. I mean after all the northern border was quiet.

Mr. Peretz go and finish the complete job and wipe out every single terrorist and their supporters in Israel and lebanon stopping in the middle will cause them to become even stonger. A security zone is not enough. If you stop[ this opperation in the middle then the growth will spread all over even worse than before. If you weren't prepared to go all the way you should not have gone in in the first place. Halfway measures never work with these terrorists they must be completely eliminated once and for all.

You have had an enemy takeover of the talkback without a battle fought. I agree with freedom of expression, but you have gone too far, either in the people you attract or the letters you choose to publish. Israel has 90 percent agreement with the government's way of running the war and here you have 90 percent against us in your columns. Something's wrong here.

forget this talk about zones Israel should comletely remove the dangerous growth of terrorism from Lebanon if they don't then this growth will come back even worse than before they went in. You don't stop a surgeon in the middle of his surgery.

A security zone must be held by Israel not by the anti semites from Europe who don't even allow Jews the right to self defense from rocket attacks and who cry crocodile tears for our enemies losses but no tears for Jewish losses. Israel cannot afford to give them control when they laud the terrorists like the PM of Spain. Israel alone should be in full control of this buffer zone and not listen to opportunist politicions like Peretz who got Israel into this mess in the first place by tying the hands of the IDF in their fight against terrorism in the negev and now in the gallil and lebanon. Peretz should resign for weakening Israel in the eyes of the terrorists by allowing them to bomb the Negev and not putting a complete stop to this stupid appeasment policy. How long will he stand by and allow Jews to be killed? How long will he bend and jerk his knee to his European Masters? When will he start being truly concerned for Jews more than for the arabs that voted for him?

"I suggested that besides building a multinational force capable of enforcing order in Lebanon, we will also build a civilian multinational force capable of rehabilitating Lebanon in order to prevent the presence of Iranian money and forces that will try to enter this region and to penetrate the population."

Defense Minister Amir Peretz is doing what Ehud Barak should have done in 2000. Instead of unilaterally withdrawing from s.Lebanon, Barak should have addressed the Hizbollah issue and security for northern Israel. The current was is all Barak's fault. His irresponsible negligence was criminal.

Having a UN force guarding the Northern frontier would be like having a Fox guarding the chickens.

Well well looks like these are the new instructions/orders to Olmert and Peretz from Their big boss Bush. after Rice's visit. Will this stop the missiles?? Yet another change of objectives to this unnecessary offensive. Just trade the prisoners and get it over with guys. Let's get back to work.

With every mile the IDF clears out and every Hizbollah fighter it captures the bargaining position to return the hostages improves.

One thing is for sure, if it isn't all the way up to the Litani then it is useless and if it is all the way up to the river then what ever force that will have to take over will have to be around at least 50,000 strong and that isn't even enough if air isn't included. Now can you see the Lebanese willing to allow for that force to occupy its country rather than just ask for the Shebaa and their prisoners back? That's all they want after all.

Why haven't Israel thought of that before?

Security zone again, you what would that means? More Israelis in body bags. isn't why Israel pulled out in 2000? Think again and don't bring this upon your self. Make peace and get it over with. When this is going to stop?

"Um, and what about the hostages?" - Jon They might get lucky. Like Corporal Shalit, Olmert wrote them off long ago. But they might get lucky. Hope so.

"Peretz: Israel will hold security zone until int'l force arrives" - The Associated Press Good Idea. I doubt if they will be able to find many nations willing to throw their soldiers in between Israel and Hamas to fulfill some half-baked Bushoid plan. Israel will be required to occupy the security zone itself, Israel should be prepared to do so for years. It would be best to start mobilizing sufficient reserves as to be able to secure a sufficient zone and hold it.

If this is going to be another toothless wimpy bend over and do it again UN security force then Israel is better off without it. We have all seen how "efficient" the UN security forces are. Hell, their rules of engagement are such that they stand impotently untill they are under a direct threat and then they only jump up and down and try and scare the enemy away with facial expressions!. A force like that can't even defend itself, let alone create a defensive barrier and keep it clean if you know what I mean.. We already have experience concerning the UN peacekeeping forces, and they turn a blind eye to terrorists comoflaging their vehicles as legitimate UN forces, and killing our soldiors and civillians. What we need is a force that will not hesitate to beat the living sh#t out of anyone who approaches the border with intent to harm. Not some "namby pamby UN force". They are only good as cannon fodder, not for anything serious. My 2cents. Cheers, Me.

UN troops have been there before and could not stop Israel to Kill and occupy Lebanon. They are talking about a security zone which is may mean something else.

I hope Israel has learned its lesson from fourty years in the West Bank and Gaza and eighteen years in Lebanon. OCCUPY THE LAND, NOT THE PEOPLE!!!!!! No building should be left standing. No human should remain. Any civilians discovered should be ushered through Israel, and given a free one-way boat ride to Beirut, for their own safety of course.

The Internation Force will only serve to protect Hizballah, and it will prompt them to get longer range weapons and 'smart' bombs possibly to make up for the strategic changes. Dont forget that Hizballah will get better weapons because Israel tore up all the unwritten rules, so all doors to hell are now open, unless Israel decides to settle this by some sort of a gentleman agreement.

I didn't see the part about them being returned. Surely the goal of this war wasn't just to get a new multi-national force deployed in S. Lebanon? So that means Israel is OK with Hezbollah continuing to inhabit Lebanon, on Israel's door step, building their arsenals, getting steadily deadlier, maybe one day having nukes? They are prepared to put off the battle they could win today for the war that will devastate Lebanon and Israel tomorrow? Seems like surrender to me.

What will Israel do when Hezbollah fires modified missles from north of the security zone? Do they really expect the International force(IF) to be able to control such activities? How will they defend themselves at that point, seems that the IF will be a buffer for Hezbollah as the IDF will then have to go through the IF at that point. No the only long term solution is to get the Lebanese to secure Lebanon and be responsible for all activity coming from Lebanese soil.